Questions About Ovulation

When?          Day 14, earlier, later or not at all
How Long?  Hours or Days of Fertile Mucus
How Much?  Copious Mucus or little or none
Looks Like?  Clear Stretchy, thick cloudy
Feels Like?    Abdomen pain or breast symptoms

Questions About the Health of Your Cycle

When?           Is it regular, length of cycle
How Long?   Short or Long Period
How Much?  Heavy or scanty flow
Looks Like?  Bright, dark, clotty blood
Feels Like?    Abdominal/pelvic pain, back pain

Answers to these lets me see the overall health of your menstrual cycle and hence your ability to conceive.

Summary of Helpful Fertility Test Requests

Blood Tests

---FSH and AMH levels for ovarian reserve/perimenopause
---Oestrogen levels for ovarian activity
---Progesterone levels for proof of ovulation
---LH and testosterone levels for PCOS
---TSH for thyroid function
---MTHFR clotting risk test
---Inhibin B
---Prolactin
---Endocrine Insulin Resistance Screening

Laproscopy for endometriosis, tubal patency
Hysteroscopy for endometrial disorders, bleeding, fibroids, polps
Hysterosalpingogram for tubal patency and uterine contours(malformation)
Ultrasound for fibroids, ovarian activity and tracking, endometrial thickness and appearance, polycystic ovaries
Post coital test for cervical mucus and sperm compatibility

All of these tests help with my diagnosis from a TCM perspective and to check progress of your treatment and to exclude malignancy or other disorders which require surgery or other treatment.
This does not mean you cannot begin acupuncture treatment for general health and fertility while at some point pursuing these.

Who Chooses TCM Treatment For Infertility?

Who Chooses TCM(Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture/Herbs) Treatment for Infertility?

1. Couples who are having difficulty conceiving but are not yet ready to try Clomid/Femara, IUI, IVF.

2. Couples wanting an Alternative or Natural Medicine.

3. Couples for whom Clomid/Femara, IUI, IVF has failed or is not appropriate.

4. Couples preparing themselves for pregnancy or to do IUI, IVF.

5. Couples who wish to try everything.

Practical Paleo New York Times Best Seller!

Practical Paleo is an amazing book! One which I will share with all my fertility and general patients. A Paleo diet is not just a diet it becomes a way of life. It is a balanced and sound way of eating that has changed my life for the better. I have more energy and feel better than I ever have. The food is amazing and when you understand the chemistry and breakdown of good carbs versus bad carbs and good fat versus bad fat and how it affects our organs and cells, it makes sense. At first it goes against the so called low fat diets but when you start to see how saturated fats are actually good for us from a biochemical point of view it begins to make sense.

Diane's book has some super recipes and pictures to boot. She talks about each organ system and what foods are good and bad. I want to make it a must for all my fertility patients. Health begins at home in the kitchen. When you start eating good you realize how even nonorganic non-grassfed free range meats can make you feel off balance, even emotionally. I want to make her frozen raspberry torte....doesn't that sound cooling for these hot humid summer days? I say even if you are just getting started shifting your diet from processed, sugary foods, know you are doing your body a favor. Even vegetarians, will find the knowledge helpful and sound and still some wonderful recipes. I always say follow the 80/20 rule but when something in your body is off, go back to the 100% rule for awhile and let food be thy medicine.

Book review: Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo

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Science, recipes, customization, and beautiful, easy-to-read graphics — Diane Sanfilippo's Practical Paleo has it all.